Photographic exposing and developing apparatus



Aug. 30, 1932. A. w. CAPS v PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPOSING AND DEVELOPINGAPPARATUS Filed March 1, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l MENTOR Aug. 30, 1932.

A. w. CAPS 1,875,215

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPOSING AND DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 3 lzls ATTORNEYS Aug. 30,. 1932. CAPS 1,875,235

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPOSING AND DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 i W i 3 i R :\L\ E %a's ATTORNEYfi Patented Aug. 30, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE ARTHUR W. CAPS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,ASBIGNOR TO PHOTOSTAI CORPORATION, 01' PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ACORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND PHO'IOGRAJPHIC EXPOSING AND DEVELOPINGAPPARATUS Application filed March 1,

My present invention relates to photographic apparatus, and moreparticularly to photographic exposing and developing mechanisms of thegeneral nature familiarly known as commercial cameras, having for theirpurpose primarily the photographing of flat objects, such as documentsand the like, which are placed upon a copyholder and which afterexposure are developed in the same machine, and the invention has forits object to provide a small, eflicient and convenient machine of thischaracter, which may also be produced at a relatively low cost. Theimprovements are directed in part to the relative arrangement of thecamera or photographic element, the copyholder for the object, and thedeveloping apparatus, whereby these results are attained, and there isproduced a unitary structure that occupies relatively small floor space,and is most. accessible at all points for the manipulation of the parts.The improvements are further directed to features of the developingapparatus in combination with the other major elements whereby thefunctions of the elements are harmonized.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cover of the apparatus and partscarried thereby, removed from the casing;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the body or casing of the apparatus, withthe cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the apparatus;

Fig. 4 isv a transverse vertical section through the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a plan of part of the print conveying means, illustratingdetails thereof;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section illustratingcertain details somewhat more clearly than shown in Fig. 3;

1929. Serial vNo. 343,654.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section illustrating partsof the drive mechanism for the print conveying means.

: Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

The invention concerns photographic apparatus arranged to take picturesof various objects to be copied, such as documents, record cards, or thelike, and to develop and fix the' photographic prints thus made.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provideda casing or body 10, shown in side elevation in Figs. 2 and 8, whichcasing is provided with a cover 11 adapted to be lifted ofi or replacedon the casing at will. Near one end of the cover an upward extension 12is provided, which may be in the shape of a frustum of a pyramid, asshown, and at its upper end this extension 12 carries a lens tube 13containing any suitable lens system. A prism 14 is provided on top ofthe lens tube through substantially 90 so that the camera may be used tophotograph objects held on a copyholder 15 pivoted at 16 to a bracket 17mounted on the top of the cover 11. As isillustrated most clearly inFig. 3. the copyholder 15 is arranged to assume a vertical positionwhile objects held thereby are being photographed. When the copyholderis being loaded or unloaded, however. it may be turned down to the horzontal position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. in which positionit rests upon a rear leg 18 of the bracket 17. Thus 'an extremelyconvenient loading position is provided. and it is but the work of an13, to bend the rays of light.

instant to swing the copyholder upwardly to r the exposure positionillustrated by full lines in Fig. 3, in which position it will gravity.A suitable shutter operated by the handle 19.

be held by (not shown) is Light rays from objects held on the copy-.

holder 15 enter the prism 14 and are transmitted downwardly through theextension 12, as shown in Fig. 3, into the body of the apparatus. Therethe light rays fall upon suitably supportedsensitized material, so thata photographic print may be made. This sensitized material may comprisea sheet 20 stretched horizontally across the top 21 of a roll boxindicated generally by the numeral 22, which roll box'rests removably inguides 23 fixed to the bottom of the casing 10. The roll box contains aroll 24 of sensitized sheet material, successive portions of which areadapted to be drawn over a roller 25 and across the top 21 of the box sothat they he in the focal plane of the camera, to .be exposed. One side26 of the roll box is pivoted at 27 to the body of the box, so that whenthe cover 11 of the apparatus is removed, the roll box may be taken outof the casing and the side 26 may be swung open to place a fresh roll ofsen sitized material in the box.

When an exposure has been made, the exposed portion of the sheetmaterial may be fed rearwardly by suitable feeding means such as therollers 30 and 31 illustrated in Fig. 3. One-of these rollers,preferably the roller 30, has its shaft extended through the side of thecasing 10 and is provided with an operating handle or crank 32 by whichthis roller may be rotated to feed the sheet material.

Automatic stop mechanism is preferably provided forindicating to theoperator when to stop turning the crank 32. This stop mechanismmayinclude a disc 33 rotated by movement of the crank 32, this dischaving a hole arranged to receive a pin 34 on an arm 35 when the discreaches a predetermined position. The dropping of the pin into theholemoves the arm 35 and causes a stop member or latch 36 to be shiftedinto the path of movement of the crank 33, so that rotation of the crankis stopped at a predetermined point until the mechanism is againreleased by the operator.

.infi a i -.Dey,;,fojr; Feeding mechanism for cameras, '.dated April 1,1913, and need not be further This stop mechanism is described PatentNo. 1,057,412 to Gilbert S.

described. here.

, The other feed roller 31 preferably has its ends mounted on links 40(Fig. 8) pivoted at 41 to the side walls of the casing 10 of theapparatus, each of these links having an arm 42 cooperating with flatspots on a shaft 43 extending across the apparatus, so that when thisshaft is turned by means of an operating arm 44, it will act upon thearms 42 of the links 40 so as to raise the roller 31 and separate itslightly from the roller 30, thus permitting the sensitized sheetmaterial to be threaded easily between the rollers.

Rotation of these feed rollers 30 and 31 feeds the sheet material 20rearwardly through a guide or chute 50 and delivers it to conveyingmechanism which will be described hereafter. When the feeding motion hasbeen completed, the exposed portion of the sheet material is thensevered from the remainder of the strip by suitable severing mechanismsuch as the knife 51 (Fig. 3) op-v erable by means of a handle 52 (Fig.8) which is connected to arms 53 which cooperate with slide members onwhich the knife 51 is mounted.

The means for treating the photographic print preferably comprisessuitable treating baths, such as a developing bath and a fixing bath,and suitable means for conveying the prints through these baths. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the baths are contained within aunitary tray or container 60 of hard rubber or the like, which isremovably supported at its four corners on brackets 61 fixed to the sideWalls of the casing 10 of the apparatus. The tray 60 preferab y hasthree compartments, the forward one 62 of which is arranged to contain adeveloping bath. The middle compartment 63 holds a fixing bath of hypoor the like, while .the rearmost compartment 64, somewhat smaller thanthe others, contains a washing bath for cleansing the print conveyingmeans. The print conveying means, according to the present invention,preferably is supported on or carried by the cover 11 of the apparatus,so that when the cover is removed, the conveying means is lifted out asa unit with it. This is an extremely desirable arrange-. ment since theconveying mechanism may be entirely removed from the bath tray in aninstant, leaving the compartments of the tray entirely clear of allobstructions, so that they may be cleaned thoroughly and easily, or thetray may be lifted out of the casing.

Preferably a pair of downwardly extending flanges is provided on theunder side of the cover 11, one flange near each side of the apparatus.When the cover is in place, these flanges extend downwardly within thecompartments 62, 63 and 64 of the container, as is illustrated clearlyin Figs. 4 and 7, the flanges being cut away at 71 so as not tointerfere with the partitions separating one compartment from another. Anumber of shafts 72 extend across the apparatus in the positionsillustrated in Fig. 3, and have their ends journalled in the downwardlyextending flanges 7 0. Each of these shafts 72 carries a sprocket 74near each end, and endless members such as the chains 7 5 are threadedover these sprockets in the manner indicated in Fig. 3. Thus thereis onechain adjacent each side of the apparatus, and a. plurality of pick-updevices is mounted on these chains for conveying the prints along as thechains are moved. I

These pick-up devices may include, for example, What might be termed pinbars, one of which is illustrated in detail inFig. 5. Each of the pinbars comprises a bar 76 extending across the apparatus, one end of thebar being attached to one of the chains and the other end to the otherchain. A number of pins 77 are mounted on each pin bar 76 and extendforwardly or in the direction of travel of the pin bars. As these pinbars move along when the endless members 75 are moved, t graphic printheld in the chute and impale this print on the conveying means so thatfurther movement of the conveying means draws the print successivelythrough the developin and fixing baths.

A number 0 pin bars 76 are used, spaced at suitable intervals along theendless member 75. Preferabl as illustratedin Fig. 3, they are soarranged that when one pin bar is near the rear corner of, thedeveloping bath 62, another pin bar willbe near the rear corner of thefixing bath 63, while other pin bars which have already passed throughthe baths will be ready upon continued movement of the conveying meansto pick up other prints and to move them through the baths.

echanism is preferably provided for removing the prints from theconveying means while they are within the fixing bath 63, the printsthen being picked up and taken out of the fixing bath by hand. The printremoving mechanism comprises sproc ets on short shafts 80 projectinginwardly a short distance from the inner sides of the downwardlyextending flanges 70. These shafts and sprockets are so placed as tocause the pin bars 76 during their paths of travel to move substantiallyvertically downwardly through a short distance, near the rear corner ofthe fixing bath 63, as illustrated in Fig. 3. A shaft 81 extends acrossfrom one of the flanges 70 to the other and has a pair of arms 82mounted on it, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The rear ends of the arms 82carry a crossbar 83 to which is attached a strip 84 of flexible materialsuch as rubber or the like. Brackets 85 (Figs. 1 and 3) fixed to theflanges 70- extend inwardly at the bottom edges of these flanges andlimit the downward motion of v the arms 82, the inward extensions onthese brackets preferably being covered by resilient material to avoidjars when the arms fall downwardly onto the brackets.

As a pin bar 76 passes along its path of movement when the continuousmembers 75 are driven, the pin bar comes into contact with the undersides of the arms 82 in a manner which will be apparent from Fig. 3, andforces these arms upwardly. Then as the pin bar passes over the upperpair of sprockets on the shafts 80, the arms 82 fall downwardly bygravity and the strip 84 of rubber or the like wipes the print which wasimpaled on the pin bar off of the pins 77 on this bar, so that the printis freed from the conveying means and remains within this fixing bath 63when the conveying means moves onwardly.

To prevent contamination of the developing bath 62 by fixing solutionwhich might be drawn over into the developing bath by the parts of theconveyin mechanism, the bath 64 is provided to was the conveying means epins 77 pierce the photo- Th to remove the fixing solution therefrom.

is bath preferably comprises clean water, and it will be observed thatthe conve ing means passes through it after the prints ave been removedand before the conveying means returns topick up another print. Sincethe prints themselves never enter the washing bath 64, the water withinthis bath does not become contaminated rapidly by developer carried overby the prints, as would occur if the prints entered this bath.

A comparatively large opening 90 (Figs. 6 and 7 is provided in the cover11 in a position over the fixing bath 63, so that the operator may reachin through this opening to remove prints from the fixing bath. In orderto prevent the light entering the casing through this opening fromreaching the developing bath 62 and fogging prints which are not fullydeveloped, a llght guard is provided which comprises a plate 91extending across the top of the developing bath from one of thedepending flanges to the other. The rear end of this plate 91 extendsdownwardly at 92 to a point somewhat below the surface of the liquid inthe fixing bath 63, thus providing an effective seal against entrance oflight into'the developing bath.

The forward end of the light'guard plate 91 extends vertically at 93 andhas a short forwardly projecting flange or shelf 94 which extends closeto the path of travel of the conveying means, and is in alinement withor slightly below the level of the bottom of the chute or guide 50. Asthe sheet material 20 is fed rearwardly through the chute by operationof the feeding means, the rear edge of the sheet passes onto the ledgeor shelf 94 in the manner shown in Fig. 7, while the vertical portion 93serves as a stop to limit the rearward motion of the print. The shelf 94of thelight guard thus serves as supporting means for holding the printin position to be picked up by the conveying means.

ny suitable mechanism for driving the conveying means may be employed.Preferably one of the shafts 72, such as the forward shaft adjacent thechute 50, has an end extended to a point outside of the marginal flange100 on the cover 11, and is there provided with operating means such asthe crank 101, by means of which the conveying mechanism may be drivenmanually. Preferably stop mechanism is provided for automaticallylimiting the amount which the conveying means is driven at each separateoperation of the crank 101, so that the pin bars 76 will always bestopped in predetermined position relative to the baths 62 and 63. Thisstop mechanism may be in general of the same type above described inconnection with the feeding rollers 30.and 31, and disclosed in greaterdetail in the patent to Dey above mentioned. Use of stop mechanism suchas this permits the pin bars to be stopped becrank tween actuations inpositions in which the at tached prints will remain in the respectivebaths so that they will be developed or fixed uniformly. If suchmechanism were not provided, the operator would have no way of tellingin what position the pin bars might be, and he would be apt to ceaseactuating the conveying means at a time when a print was perhaps half inthe developing bath and half out of it, which would be extremelyundesirable.

In operation, the object to be photographed is inserted in thecopyholder 15 when the latter is in its horizontal or loading position,illustrated in Fig. 1. The copyholder is then turned up to the verticalposition shown in Fig. 3, and an exposure is made by operating theshutter by means of the shutter operating handle 19. This causes theimage of the object held by the vertical copyholder to be thrown uponthe sensitized sheet material 20 held horizontally in the focal plane ofthe camera.

The crank 32 is then operated, after re leasing the stop mechanismthereof, and this feeds the exposed sheet materialrearwardly into andthrough the chute 50, until-the rear edge of the sheet material restsupon the ledge 94. The feeding cranl32 is automatically stopped when ithas been rotated through the proper amount, by means of the stopmechanism. The handle 52 is then moved rearwardly or to the right whenviewed as in Fig. 8, which operates the severing knife 51 and severs theexposed portion of the sheet material from the fresh unexposed portionwhich has been drawn into the focal plane preparatory to making anotherexposure.

The operator then releases the automatic stop associated with theconveying means 101, and turns this crank until it is stopped by thestop mechanism. Turning of this crank drives the endless members 75 andcauses one of the pin bars 76 to pass the position at which the exposedprint lies, so that the print is impaled on the pins 7 7 and picked upand carried along by the conveying means into the developing bath. Whenthe automatic stop mechanism stops further rotation of the crank 101,the print will come to rest in the developing bath 62.

Another exposure is then made, the exposed portion is fed and severed-asbefore, and'the conveying means is again actuated. This second actuationof the conveying means carries the first print over from the developingbath 62 intothe fixing bath 63, where it is automatically removed fromthe conveying means by the removing device 84, and carries the lastexposed print down into the developing bath 62.

When another exposure is made, the subsequent actuation of the crank 101will cause the first pin bar to pass through the washing bath 64, thuscleansing it of fixing solution so that when it next passes through thedeveloping bath, the developer will not be contaminated by the fixingsolution. The bath 64 also cleanses all portions of the endless members7 5 of the conveying means.

The prints deposited by the conveying means in the fixing bath 63 may beremoved manually through the opening 90. They may be taken out one at atime if desired, or a number of prints may be allowed to accumulate andthey may then be removed all at once.

lVhen it is desired to obtain access to the interior of the apparatusfor any reason, such as for loading a fresh supply of sheet materialinto the roll box 22, or for filling or emptying the baths 62, 63, and64, the cover 11 of the apparatus may be lifted off by a simple upwardmovement, and easy access may then be obtained to all parts. Since theconveying means is carried entirely from the cover and is removed as aunit therewith, it follows that the compartments of the bath containerwill be left entirely clear when the cover is removed, so that they maybe cleaned easily. As the entire bath container 60 is supported simplyby resting on the bracket 61, it may belifted out of the casing 10 whenit is desired to empty it.

' The placing of the copyholder upon the top of the casing makes acompact construction and greatly reduces the amount of floor space whichwould be necessary if the copyholder projected from the side or end ofthe casing, or if a separate copyholder were used.

struction has been provided, which is sturdy,

not likely to get out of order, and which may be moved very easily fromplace to place. It may be described as self-contained, since itcomprises in ment necessary for holding the documents to be copied,making photographic prints of them-and developing and fixing the prints.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number ofways. This application is therefore not to be limited to the precisedetails shown, but is intended to cover all variations and modificationsthereof falling within the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

I claimas my invention:

1. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a casing, ofphotographic print treating mechanism within said casing, a copyholdermounted over said casing, and a camera including optical elementsprojecting above the body of said casing so that said camera mayphotograph objects held by said copyholder.

2. In a photographic apparatus, thecomone unitary article all theequipbination with a casing, of photographic print treating mechanismwithin said casing, a-

copyholder mounted on the top of said casing and arranged to standsubstantially vert1- cally, and a camera including a chamber projectingupwardly from the body of said casing, and having optical means adjacentthe top of said upward projection so that said camera may photographobjects held by said copyholder.

3. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a casing, ofphotographic print treating mechanism mounted within said casing, acopyholder mounted on the top of said casing and arranged to holdarticles to be photographed in a substantially vertical position, acamera including optical means arranged above said casing to change thedirection of beams of light to throw an image of artiCles held by saidcopyholder downwardly, means for holding sensitized sheet material insubstantially horizontal position within said casing to receive saidimage, and mechanism for delivering exposed portions of said sheetmaterial to said photographic print treating mechanism.

4. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a casing, ofphotographic print treating mechanism within said casing, a copyholdermounted on top of said casing for pivotal movement from a substantiallyhorizontal position for loading to a substantially vertical position fortaking exposures, a camera. including optical means above said casingarranged to receive an image of objects held by said copyholder when insaid vertical position, and to transmit said image downwardly into saidcasing, means for holding sensitized material within said casing inposition to receive said image, and mechanism for delivering exposedsensitized materialto said photographic print treating mec-hanlsm.

5. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a casing, ofphotographic print treating mechanism within said casing, a copyholdermounted on said casing, an upwardly projecting portion on said casing,op-.

tical means mounted on said upwardly projecting portion for receiving animage of an object held by said copyholder and for trans mitting saidimage downwardly through said upwardly projecting portion, means forholding sensitized material in position to receive said image, andmechanism for delivering exposed sensitized material to saidphotographic print treating mechanism.

6. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a casing andphotographic print treating mechanism therein, of a copyholder mountedon top of said casing for holding objects to be photographed insubstantially vertical position, an upwardly extending portion on saidcasing, a prism mounted on said upwardly extending portion for receivinglight rays from an object held b said copyholder and for transmittingsaid rays downwardly through said upwardly extending portion, means forholding sentsitized material substantially horizontal within said casingbeneath said upwardly extending portion in position to receive an imageof ob ects held by said copyholder, and mechanism for delivering exposedsheet material to said photographic print treating mechanism.

7. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a casing, of acontainer within said casing for holding a photographic print treatingbath, a cover for sa:' 1 casing, and means including an endless memberand a pick-up device carried thereby for conveying a photographic printthrough said contalner, said endless member being mounted upon saidcover and movable as a unit therewith.

8. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a container forholding a photoa graphic print treating bath, of a cover for saidcontainer, members depending from said cover and arranged to extend intosaid con tainer when said cover is in normal position, and meansincluding an endless member mounted on said depending members andmovable as a unit with said cover and a pickup device carried by saidendless member for conveying a photographic print through saidcontainer.

9. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a container forholding a photo; graphic print treating bath, of a cover for saidcontainer, and means including an endless member movable along apredetermined path and a pick-up device carried by said member alongsaid path for conveying a photographic print through said container,said endless member being mounted on said cover and movable as a unittherewith.

10. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a plurality ofcontainers for holding photographic print treating baths, of a cover forsaid containers, a pair of flanges depending from said cover andarranged to extend downwardly into said container when the cover is innormal position, and means including an endless member mounted on saidflanges and a pick-up device carried by said member for conveying aphotographic print through said containers in succession.

11. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a casing, of acontainer within said casing for holding a photographic print treatingbath, means within said casing for holding sensitized material, a coverfor said casing, a copyholder mounted on said cover, and optical meansfor transmitting an ima 'e of an object held by said copyholder to thesensitized material held by said holding means.

12. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a casing, of acontainer within said casing for holding a photographic print treatingbath, means within said casing for holding sensitized material, a coverfor said casing, a copyholder mounted on said cover,

optical means for transmitting an image of an object held by saidcopyholder to the sensitized material held. by said holding means, andmeans carried by said cover for convey ing exposed sensitized materialthrough said photographic print treating bath.

13. In a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith a container forholding a photographic print treating bath, if means for conveying aphotographic print through said bath, mechanism for delivering aphotographic print to said conveying means, and a light guard having aportion for supporting a photographic print in position to be picked upby said conveying means.

14. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a container forholding a photo graphic print treating bath, of means for conveying aphotographic print through said bath, mechanism for delivering aphotographic print to said conveying means, and a, member for excludinglight from said bath, said member including a portion serving as asupport for a photographic print to hold. it in position to be picked upby said conveying 15, In a photographic apparatus, the combination witha container for holding a photo'- graphic print developing bath, of acontainer for holding a photographic print fixing bath, conveying meansfor moving a photographic print successively through said baths,mechanism for removing a print from said conveying means, and acontainer for holding a bath for washing said conveying means subsequentto the removal of a print therefrom.

16'. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a container forholding a photographic print developing bath, of a container for holdinga photographic print fixing bath conveying means movable in an endlesspath repeatedly through said developing'bath and said fixing bath insuccession, mechanism for removing a print from said conveying means,and a container for holding a bath for washing said conveying meanssubsequent tothe removal of a print therefrom and prior to the nextsucceeding passage of the conveying means through the developing bath.

17. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a camera includinga substantially horizontal focal plane, of means for holding sensitizedsheet material in said focal plane in position to be exposed, asubstantially horizontal guide to receive an exposed print from saidfocal plane, and photographic print conveying means movable in adirection transversely of a print held by said guide to pick up saidprint and remove it from said guide.

18. In a photographic apparatus, the combination with a camera includinga substantially horizontal focal plane, of means for holding sensitizedsheet material in said focal plane in position to be exposed, asubstantially horizontal guide arranged to receive exposed sheetmaterial from said focal plane and to hold the sheet materialsubstantially horizontal, mechanism for delivering sheet material fromsaid focal plane to said guide, a container for holding a photographicprint treating bath, and print conveying means movable along a path oftravel adjacent said guide and transversely of sheet material held inthe guide, to pick up such sheet material Ianplhto convey the same tosaid print treating 19. A compact photographic exposing and developingapparatus requiring relatively little floor space, comprising means fordeveloping a photographic print, a copyholder mounted 'on top of saiddeveloping means, means for holding sensitized material, an opticalsystem for directing an image of an article held by said copyholder ontosaid sensitized material, and means for transferring the exposedsensitized material to said developing means.

20. A compact photographic exposing and developing apparatus requiringrelatively little floor space, comprising a casing adapted to containsensitized material and photographic developing apparatus, a removablecover for said casing, a copyholder mounted on said cover, an extensionproj eoting inwardly from said cover at a point spaced from saidcopyholder, and an optical system carried by said extension fordirecting an image of an article held by said copyholder through saidextension to fall upon sensitized material.

ARTHUR W. CAPS.

